Ashley Chesters falls back after final round slip-ups in UAE
A two-over-par final round of 74 saw Shropshire’s Ashley Chesters slide down the leaderboard at golf’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
Hawkestone Park golfer Chesters ended the tournament on two under par, some 22 shots behind eventual winner Nicolai Hojgaard, who recovered from a mid-round stumble to fight off the challenge of Jordan Smith and claim a four-shot victory.
Chesters takes home a cheque for around £3,000 after finishing in 67th position.
Hojgaard began the day with a three-shot lead and extended his advantage to five with an early eagle. But a double-bogey six on the ninth allowed charging Englishman Smith to close the gap to just one stroke as Hojgaard reached the turn. And with the 20-year-old Dane dropping another shot at the 12th and Smith completing a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th to 14th, the lead changed hands as Smith led by two.
However, Hojgaard bounced back with a birdie at the 13th before producing the shot of the day on his way to an outstanding eagle on the next, and he suddenly found himself with a two-shot advantage after Smith, three groups ahead of the Dane, had bogeyed the 15th.
And from there Hojgaard was able to cruise to victory, making further birdies at the 17th and 18th to sign for a closing 68 and finish the week on 24 under par.
